FOREIGN ministers from Southeast Asia expressed serious concern over the escalating war in the Middle East and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities during a special virtual meeting convened by the Philippines on Friday, March 13.
Ma. Theresa Lazaro, secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said the Philippines organized the Special Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the situation in the Middle East in its capacity as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
The meeting gathered foreign ministers from Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, along with senior officials representing Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Timor-Leste.
Call for a ceasefire and diplomacy
In a media briefing, Lazaro said Asean members emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation and diplomacy as violence in the Middle East continues to affect global stability.
“We expressed serious concern over the situation in the Middle East and its impacts,” Lazaro said. “We emphasized the importance of the immediate cessation of hostilities and called on all parties to exercise utmost self-restraint.”
The ministers also urged all parties involved in the conflict to resolve disputes through dialogue and diplomacy while respecting international law, including the principles of the United Nations and its charter.
Asean officials agreed to continue monitoring developments in the region and to coordinate responses to any potential effects on Southeast Asia.
Concerns over energy
During the meeting, ministers also discussed the broader economic implications of the war, particularly disruptions to energy markets and global shipping routes.
Lazaro said Asean members underscored the importance of maintaining stable and reliable energy supply chains and keeping maritime trade routes open, as tensions in the Middle East could affect global oil supplies and transportation networks.
To mitigate potential disruptions, the bloc highlighted existing regional cooperation mechanisms, including the Asean Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security, the Asean Power Grid and the Trans-Asean Gas Pipeline.
Officials also emphasized the need to strengthen intra-Asean trade and expand the use of renewable energy as part of long-term strategies to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The ministers further agreed to improve coordination between Asean’s foreign and economic sectors to enable faster and more coordinated responses to regional crises.
Protection of Asean nationals
Another key topic discussed during the meeting was the safety of Southeast Asian nationals living or working in the Middle East.
Asean members are committed to improving coordination and information sharing among diplomatic missions in third countries to ensure timely assistance during emergencies.
This cooperation will follow existing regional guidelines, including the Asean Declaration on the Guidelines on Consular Assistance by Asean Member States’ Missions in Third Countries to Nationals of Other Asean Member States and the Guidelines for the Provision of Emergency Assistance by Asean Missions in Third Countries to Nationals of Asean Member Countries in Crisis Situations.
Lazaro also acknowledged the support extended by Asean member states in assisting citizens from neighboring countries when crises occur abroad.
